TTM Return: Brendan Harris

• Brendan Harris 1/1- I sent an 09 Topps card out to Angels spring training last year.  Brendan is now playing for the Dodgers, but the envelope was postmarked from Florida.  Sent 2/18/13 (357 days)
  

2 TTM Returns: Grant Balfour & Dustin Ackley

My first two returns of 2014 came last week as pitchers and catchers report in just a few days.

• Grant Balfour 1/1- The re-acquired Rays pitcher signed his 13 Topps Heritage card.  Sent 7/15 (200 days)

• Dustin Ackley 2/2- Dustin personalized two cards from last year's Spring Training.  Sent 3/20 (317 days)

New Record for Longest Return! Brandon Wood

I got this back a few weeks ago, but with the lack of autograph activity lately, I didn't get around to posting it until now.  I sent this card all the way back in the fall of 2010, when Brandon was playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL.  This is a new personal best for longest return.  Sent 10/7/10 (1,145 days)

TTM Return: Jordan Pacheco

It's been a cold and lonely winter around the mailbox.  Jordan signed cards from the 12 Allen & Ginter and 13 Topps red parallel sets.  Sent 2/25 (295 days)

Championship Graphing- Shane Victorino!

After watching the Sox clinch across the street from Fenway on Wednesday night, and wandering the streets of Boston for Halloween last night, I was fortunate enough to have a day off of work to recover today.  I didn't get a chance to do any graphing during the playoff run, but I found out earlier today that Shane Victorino would be signing autographs at Macy's in downtown Boston.  The first 200 people that made a purchase of $35 or more would be allowed to get one item signed, but it had to be one of the items that you bought at the store.  They had nothing but hats and t-shirts, so I bought one of each and figured I'd just get the hat signed.  I knew going into it that it would be a longshot to get an outside item done, especially given the extensive list of rules they gave out at the event:

There were several people checking to make sure that the only item you had to get signed was either a hat or t-shirt.  I had brought my cards with me just in case.  They were taking any bags that you were carrying, so the only thing in your hands when you got to the table was the item you were getting signed.  I realized my only chance of getting a card signed was to hide it inside the hat and reveal it when I got up to the table.  Even then, I had my doubts that Victorino would do it.  I guess the championship has kept him in a pretty good mood, because he discreetly signed my card and gave a smile.  

• Shane Victorino- 09 Topps

TTM Returns: Matt Thornton & Mark Loretta

• Matt Thornton 3/3- The Red Sox reliever signed cards from the 10 Upper Deck, 11 Topps, and 13 Topps Heritage sets.  Sent 7/15 (63 days)

• Mark Loretta 2/2- Mark certainly took his time with this return.  He signed cards from the 09 Topps and 09 Upper Deck sets that I sent out during last year's spring training when he was with the Padres.  Sent 2/24/12 (591 days)

End of (Regular) Season Update

I've been pretty busy over the last month or so, with little luck when it comes to graphing.  At the last three games I went to during the regular season, I only got one auto at each game:

Yankees @ Red Sox, 9/15 (Mariano's last game at Fenway)

• Hiroki Kuroda- 08 Allen & Ginter RC

Orioles @ Red Sox, 9/17

• Jonathan Schoop- 11 Bowman Chrome

Orioles @ Red Sox, 9/18

• Larry Lucchino- Red Sox 100th anniversary schedule

I was away last weekend when the Rays were in town.  I had tickets for a Game 5, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), that game never happened.  I won't be around for any of the ALCS either, so hopefully I'll have a shot at some postseason graphing if the Sox make it all the way to the World Series.